"how we should treat each other as people.”
A coach and former Australian cricketer was left impressed by Pakistan and India’s “sporting brotherhood”.
Matthew Hayden made the comments after Pakistan thrashed India during the T20 World Cup on Sunday, October 24, 2021.
The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) appointed the retired batsman as batting consultant prior to the tournament.
He was joined by Pakistan’s bowling consultant and former South African all-rounder Vernon Philander at the match in the UAE.
It came just two days after Hayden’s stint as an Indian Premier League (IPL) commentator.
After Pakistan’s T20 win, Hayden, known for his intense competitiveness as a player, said in a video message from Dubai:
“The thing that inspired me the most out of the performance was the fantastic sporting brotherhood.”
He went on to say that the way the players from the two rival countries came together was a good example of “how we should treat each other as people”.
Hayden added: “That’s the role of sport, so it’s beautiful to see those moments where MS Dhoni is holding court with a few of the [Pakistan] players and Virat Kohli and [Rizwan], you know, in brotherhood, joining hands after there was heated battles in the middle.”
Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Afridi led the race by scoring two wickets within the first three overs.
However, it was Babar Azam who led the team to victory with 13 balls to spare.
It was India’s first 10 wicket T20I defeat.
He said of his team’s triumph:
“Great humility from our perspective inside the change rooms, not getting carried away too much with the celebrations, but just this great humility, this great sense of spirit and great sense of purpose moving into the next game against New Zealand.”
Also speaking of the win, Hayden added:
“Pakistan has velocity in abundance, not just here but also back home that aren’t celebrating in this World Cup.”
“Shaheen really is that one leader within the bowling group… nothing beats velocity, mixed up with some skill.”
India will next be playing against New Zealand on Sunday, October 31, 2o21.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s will also be facing New Zealand but much sooner, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.
British Pakistanis celebrated the win with jubilant crowds enjoying music, fireworks and dhol players on streets across the UK.
It is expected that the celebrations will go on for days.
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